Creation of the United States 1776-1786

¶ … United States,1776-1786

Previous to 1776, the United States of America was formed by colonies ruled by British government. The colonists were no longer willing to be ruled by England, and as a result they started to fight for their independence. There were a series of important events which drove to the unification of the colonies into United States of America. Colonist complaints drove to a revolution which soon transformed into a full-scale war.

The colonists were unhappy because the British government denied them a series of essential rights. They could not trade resources with any other country but England, and in addition to that British government increased taxes significantly. In 1770 colonists started to protest against the British government. In 1773 England issued a law meant to have colonists pay taxes on tea and send the money to England. In December 1773 a group of colonists dressed as Native American attacked three English ships in Massachusetts. The colonists tossed all the boxes with tea into the sea, and as a result the event was called the Boston Tea Party.

During the First Continental Congress from 1774 colonists prepared a revolution against England. There were representatives from all thirteen colonies at this meeting. "Thomas Jefferson wrote an important document called the Declaration of Independence. It said that the people of America wanted to be free from England. The Declaration of Independence also said that "all men are created equal," and that everyone has "the right to life, liberty and happiness." (America's Fight for Independence) Although the colonist army was weaker than British army, it managed to win the war in 1783 - creating what we presently relate to as the United States of America. Victory was possible because most of the colonists helped during the war. No matter what color or occupation they had, the majority of colonists became soldiers. The women stayed home and helped by taking care of farms, sending supplies on the front lines, and making clothes for the army.

Although the British thought that rebellions did not pose a threat, later on they realized that colonists were not alone. The revolution materialized into war in 1778 when the French stepped in and supported the colonists. Later, in 1779, the Spanish increased the intensity of the conflicts and helped develop a worldwide war. "At the end of 1780, the Dutch also joined the war as British enemies." (Stephen Conway, page 1)

British General Thomas Cage found out that colonists are gathering weapons and organizing a revolution. He sent an army to find out more about this matter. On April 19, 1775 Cage's army was stopped in Lexington by the local militia. "While the regulars had no difficulty in sweeping aside the militiamen, they soon found themselves under determined attack from much larger numbers of enraged New Englanders." (Stephen Conway, page 3) The British army destroyed the colonists' weapons, and went to shelter in Boston. Despite this, it was defeated by colonists "at the bloody Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)." (Stephen Conway, page 3) After this the Continental Congress met and named George Washington, a gentleman from Virginia, as the commander of the Continental army.

In the year to follow the British minister decided to send an army in every colony to defeat the revolt. Generals Carleton and Burgoyne commanded the northern army which arrived in St. Lawrence. Their objective was to chase all the colonists in Canada. In the South, the British army was commanded by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis. Their army was defeated in the Charleston, but their commanders managed to escape and joined the main British army. The main army in New York had was commanded by General William Howe. It tried to negotiate with the colonists, but by that time the Americans decided that they want to be independent. "Howe defeated Washington's army on Long Island in August, and captured New York City in September, and pursued Washington's disintegrating army as it fled across New Jersey in November and December." (Stephen Conway, page 4) In the meantime, General Clinton successful conquered Newport from Rhode Island.

Although England was celebrating the defeat, Washington did not give up the fight and in 1777 he defeated a British army in Princeton. Germain decided to reapply the plan of 1776 campaigns. New England was seen by the British as the main location for the American resistance. In this new campaign England chase to suppress this region, thinking that like this the rebellion will end.

In 1777, Howe decided that to defeat Washington is more important than to help General Burgoyne. He took the main British army, leaving Clinton with almost no defense to go forward to Hudson Valley. Although Howe won the battle at Brandywine Creek, and conquered Philadelphia Burgoyne was defeated by Americans, and he admitted defeat at Saratoga on October 17. This victory gave Americans the trust they needed to go forward and win the war. Also, it brought the French to the colonists' side. One year after France joined the colonists' side, Spanish signed an alliance with the Americans. With the French interfering, the British government was obliged to send its armies to defend the Caribbean colonies. In 1780 the British army conquered Charleston and made peace with the south. But they were soon obliged to march towards north, due to the differences between the Loyalists and Patriots. In the North Washington's army was expecting them and as a result the British needed to surrender.